The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-30

norant barbarians would inflict such
horrid cruelty upon an innocent man.
But it is necessary here to fully under
stand the meaning of this word atone
ment. What is it to atone for crime?
We do not here ask what its techni
cal sense is, as used in UNCONVENTIONAL
creeds, as it's Calvinistic sense; its
Arminian sense j; or its Roman Cath
Ole sense? 1t is simply asked, 1. What
is the common meaning of this word,
when used and applied to ordinary mat
ters in the English language I? 2. What
is its meaning as used in the New Test
ament by the Apostle l. In the die
tionaries of our language this definition
is given: 'Atonement, as noun, means
satisfaction, expiration, reconciliation"
The verb, atone, signifies to expiate,
to make satisfaction for, to reconcile,
to make good wrong, to make amends,
to be at one, or, at One-ment. Again, its
New Testament sense is determined
by the marginal reading, in the only
place where the word occurs, rom. V.
ILL., which makes it synonymous with
the word, Reconciliation" In every
other place, indeed, the word here trans
lated atonement, is translated reconcil-
iation. 1t will be seen that that par.
ticular thing called reconciliation, is
always effected by making amends, or
making satisfaction for a wrong done
one party by the wrong doer himself,
or by some friendly mediator. But it
has been shown above that all sin has
primarily either been against some fell
bowman, or against ones own soul
and consequently the injured is not
God, but either man himself, Or his
neighbor. Therefore, when the Apos-
tie urges: 'Be ye reconciled to God"
he, doubtless, means, "be ye reconciled
to Gods law, by being reconciled to
your neighbor." That is, conform to
the gospel rule in such cases. This to
the wrong-doer, would be, confess your
fault make full satisfaction for it, ask
his pardon, promise amendment, and
seek the friendship of the injured party
as before the wrong was committed.
To the wronged party the gospel rule
is: Forgive your enemies, even unto
seventy times seven, if ne come to thee,
saying, 1 repent and ask forgiveness,
and is willing to make satisfaction for
his wrongs, and promises amendment
of life.
Thus, in becoming reconciled to each
other, they become reconciled to God,
or to Gods law of right and wrong do
ing. All three parties are brought into
unison with each other. God himself
is reconciled to the conduct of both his
children. The criminal is reconciled to
Gods golden rule and law of love, and
even his law of chastisement and de-
mand for restitution. The wronged
man is also reconciled to his once Of
Tending brother, and to the law of for
giveness and charity. Here Gods law
of atonement has borne its legitimate
fruits, in its general sense, by the al
most complete obliteration of the above
supposed crime, and thereby nearly
annulling the demand for any punish
ment whatever. Because the wrong
has been justly and legitimately repair
ed, according to the satisfaction of all
parties concerned, and thereby all con-
sequences of evil are averted. Here
is seen the superiority land its wonder
full Importance in the prevention of
crime, when it is properly understood),
of the doctrine that the wrong doer
must, to the utmost of his power, atone
for himself, for every crime, before the
aid of friendly mediator can be called
in, as contrasted with the doctrine of
an atonement which consists mainly of
substituted punishment, inflicted upon
an innocent Christ, while the criminal
himself is thencefor free from all
penalties whatever.
1t has been generally commended that
the simple law of justice demands pun
ishment, and, therefore, all sin must be
punished, or the law of God is a dead
letter, and his government impeached.
But justice demands simply that
which is right, and due, in the case.
If punishment were melted out in all its
most deadly intensity upon the GRIM
inal, justice might still be wholly want
ing In being satisfied. If the incendi-
airy burns your house, and robs you of
all your property, and is sent to the
penitentiary for the term of ten years,
as penalty, this does not render to
you in any degree what justice demands.
For justice demands that your house be
rebuilt, and that your property be re-
stored, while, perhaps, for your fu-
ture safety, and that of others, policy
would dictate that the incendiary should
be shut up within stone walls, to deter
him from future wrongs, and as
wholesome example to others. This is
all that can ever result from punish
ment in any scheme of government,
viz: Reformation of the criminal, and
warning to others; and, thereby, fu-